Wednesday, May 20, 2009
From the Threshing Floor, The Breath of God
Yesterday, I had a good friend of my daughter e-mail me with questions about the threshing floor and its significance in our lives today. I love to see a hunger for the things of God within His word begin to draw His people to a deeper intimacy with Him. So while this is still fresh on my heart, I thought that I would share it with you.
Threshing floors were used in ancient times to separate grain from the chaff. These floors were made of a flat bedrock surface surrounded by a low fieldstone wall, and was elevated for drainage and exposed to the wind for winnowing (as seen in the picture above).
Once stalks of grain were harvested, they were place upon the threshing floor, where a two step process would take place. Step one, a threshing sledge made of wood with rocks or metal spikes on the bottom was pulled by oxen or donkeys over the grain to break down and separate the kernels of grain from the husk and straw. The same process could be achieved by having the oxen or donkey walk over the stalks of grain or beating the stalks with a heavy stick. The second step was to toss, or winnow, the broken stalks into the air with a large forked tool, usually constructed of wood. The wind would then carry the light chaff away while the heavier grain would fall to the threshing floor where then it could be gathered.Because of the need for wind, threshing floors were normally located upon hilltops or open fields, and were often used as landmarks or meeting places.
How do threshing floors apply to you and me today? In relation to the threshing floor, our hearts and souls can be an example of a threshing floor. Our time in prayer can be a threshing floor. Our worship services can be an example of a "threshing floor," where the most treasured things found deep with us are winnowed through, tossed in the air of fellowship with the Father, and only the most treasured things in a holy perspective remain.
Have you ever had a threshing floor experience, where you went to the floor with more than you could truly carry, and by the time that you walked away from fellowship with God the only thing that remained was the cream of the crop which lay at your feet? The breeze that carries away the needless and graciously leaves the needed things in our lives has a holy place within our memories. Think back to when the wind of God blessed your sweaty brow. As my son Malachi calls the wind the breath of God, I am thankful that He is as close as a breath. (2 Samuel 24:18-25, Matt. 3:11-12)~Joey
1 Comments:
Robbie
